60 acres in Kerry knocked down at €1.5 million

By Shirley Busteed

Around 50 people turned up to the Killarney Towers Hotel for last week's auction of a 24.3-hectare (60-acre) residential parcel of land situated at Grenagh, Fossa, Killarney, Co Kerry. Although guided at around €1.2 million, active interest from three keen customers on the day saw the property beat the guide and sell for €1.5 million.

Selling agent Jim Burns Auctioneers, Killorglin, received a high opened bid of €1.2 million which briskly moved in €100,000 bids to €1.5 million. With no further delay, the property was declared on the market and sold at €25,000/acre in trust to a Killarney-based solicitor. It's thought the solicitor was acting on behalf of a local person.

Apparently, a shortage of land for sale in the area has generated exceptional demand from a mix of farmers and business people.

As well as local interest, this particular property attracted inquiries from Cork, Limerick, Dublin and England. Situated about four miles from Killarney, just off the main ring of Kerry road, the farm has been let out for a few years and comes with a 1950's bungalow residence. The land, which is described as "good quality", extends down to the Laune river and requires some tidying up.

Farmers pays €800,000 for 63 acres in Co Monaghan

A 25.5-hectare (63-acre) block of pasture land situated at Comraghs & Lacklum, Inniskeen, Co Monaghan, sold under the hammer last week for €800,00 (€12,700/acre) to an adjoining farmer. Located two miles from the village of Inniskeen and six miles from Carrickmacross, the land comes with a range of sheds and is accessed by a shared laneway. There was no road frontage or residence with the property. Gunne Auctioneers, Carrickmacross, handled the sale.

Cavan farm makes combined total of €981,000

After a slow start, a 37.8-hectare (93.4-acre) residential farm situated near Belturbet, Co Cavan, sold in two separate lots at last week's public auction. The property, which is situated in no less than seven different townlands, has been rented out for the past number of years and came with three residences.

Before a big turnout in the Lough Bawn Hotel, Killeshandra, selling agent Peter Donohoe & Son, Ballyconnell & Carrigallen, offered the first parcel comprising a stone cottage on 13.4 acres, which later sold to a local farmer for €176,000. The remaining c.80 acres with two bungalow residences were knocked down at €805,000 to a neighbouring farmer. This gave a combined total of €981,000 (€10,500/acre).